Casing projectile



June 36 11%36. o. RINKEL CASING PROJECTILE Filed Feb. 25, 1935 I F/g. 8

Patented June 30, 1936 UNl'lED STATES PATNT OFFIE OASIN G PROJECTILE company of Germany Application February 25, 1935, Serial No. 8,171 In Germany December 13, 1934 3 Claims.

The invention relates to a casing projectile for hand firearms, especially automatic-loading weapons, with easy deformability of the front portion of the projectile and nevertheless absolute certainty of operation in automatic-loading weapons. It is known that with projectiles of small calibre a good stopping power can be obtained only when the construction of the projectile is such that on impact against or entry into the target there is caused a crushing or shattering of the projectile and consequently an enlargement of the scope of action.

It is not particularly difiicult to produce this crushing and increase of action in the case of projectiles that are fired at high velocities, for example gun projectiles. In the case of high projectile velocity a hole in the front portion of the casing, for example, or a small portion of the lead core projecting out of the casing, or the like, serves for producing the crushing or shattering and consequently blow-like action.

Much more difficult is it to solve the problem in the case of projectiles of comparatively small velocity, as, for example, revolvers, automaticloading pistols, and the like, in use. With the velocities of about 200 to about 500 metres per second usual in this case even unencased lead projectiles are either not crushed at all or only insufficiently crushed on entering the target. Such projectiles are able therefore to penetrate deeply into the bodies in question and in time probably to bring about severe injuries or death by loss of blood or putting out of action of vital organs. The instantaneous effect, however, is very often lamentably small. Even the adversary whose life is endangered by the hit or the wild beast that is to be taken by a dispatching shot frequently remains for a still longer time capable of action and possibly dangerous for the shooter. This disadvantage is intensified by the fact that the hydro-dynamic explosive action in the target occurring in the case of high velocity of projectile even in the case of imperforate-casing projectiles is wholly or almost wholly absent in the case of such projectiles of low velocity.

The above mentioned disadvantages exhibit themselves very easily and markedly, particularly in the case of ammunition for automaticloading pistols. It has therefore been endeavoured in many ways to increase the effect by special construction of the projectiles. Thus, for example it has been endeavoured to employ projectiles having a front portion of very flat form (mushroom projectiles). Apart from the exceedingly hi h air resistance, however, such projectiles do not operate satisfactorily in automatic-loading weapons, because derangements occur during the passage from the magazine into the barrel. It has been endeavoured to avoid these derangements by placing a thin metal cap of slenderer point form on the fiat front portion of the projectile. This metal cap, however, then reduces the deformability of the projectile so much that the desired effect does not take place. There have been, and still are also employed and supplied even for pistol projectiles and the like the part-casing constructions usual in the case of sporting projectiles. Their employment has not, however, taken place to any extent worth speaking of because such projectiles having a free lead point result in the case of the automatic-loading operation in many derangements owing to the impact of the soft point in the magazine or in the rear portion of the barrel. If, however, the casing is prolonged so far that the free lead point is no longer capable of impact and jamming, there again results no longer any deformation in the target.

Practically therefore, particularly for automatic-loading hand firearms, the position to-day is that imperforate-casing projectiles are used practically exclusively but that on all sides complaint is made of the too small effect of such projectiles.

According to the present invention there is provided a new projectile which, with a most simple construction, presents a smooth, ballistically favourable, and outwardly strong character as far as the point. ever, there results with absolute certainty, even with the lowest velocities, as for example in the case of firing from the known pocket pistols of Browning type and the like, such a projectile deformation in the target that together with sufiicient deep action there is produced unconditionally also the maximum amount of widening and shock action, so far as this is at all made possible by the energy located in the cartridge.

The method for making this new projectile and the projectile itself will be hereinafter described by means of the accompanying draw- The projectile belongs to the class of partcasing projectiles in which the casing is entirely or practically entirely closed at the base and is open or partially open at the mouth. What is new and peculiar in this projectile consists essentially in the feature that the casing is provided, before the production of the final form of the projectile, at the open and consequently front end, with stamped-out, milled out, or otherwise producedopenings in the form of notches, slots or the like. These notches or openings are of such a form and size that on the subsequent final pressing of the form of the projectile the remaining parts of the casing produce up to the foremost end of the projectile an external form that is ballistically favourable and smooth and which is fully resistant to the stresses in the magazine and on the transference into the bar- At the same time, howg rel. However, in consequence of the fact that the material of the casing has divisions for a certain length of the front portion and in addition is advantageously provided with a larger or smaller cavity not filled with core material, there takes place readily and with very small resistance on impact against the target an absolutely certain crushing of the front part of the projectile. 1 a

What is characteristic therefore of the new projectile is that it has no more parts than the ordinary metal-casing projectilenamely, only a 1 casing and a core-and that in the weapon and during flight it behaves like a ballistically fa vourable imperforate-casing projectile but in the body it exerts an effect like a cylindrical projectile with a flat end surface that is incapable. of use in automatic-loading weapons both ballistically and also as regards certainty of action.

Figure 1 showsthe casing a of the projectile as drawn out, which may consist of the usual materials, for example brass, tombac, copper, steel or the like;

Figure 2 shows in section the casing a projectile may take place, the projectile a and the,

pressing mould 0 being shown in section and the pressing-Ln stamp d and the ejecting stamp -e being shown in elevation;

Figure 6 shows a projectile according to the invention in elevation,

Figures '7 to 9 show some further constructional forms of the front portion of the casing. It is obvious that there may be employed in addition on the projectile according to the invention in a usual and suitable manner and combination other constructional steps, as for example grooves f (Figure 8), 9 (Figure 9), and also any special forms of base It (Figure 9) and the like. I

The form of the notches in the front portion of the casing is particularly advantageously such that, as shown for example in Figure 6, the teeth of the casing that are left standing produce after the final pressing of the projectile a formation of easing that is substantially without a gap. If the teeth of the casing terminate in actual points, there results a practically closed form at the apex of the projectile. If the teeth of the casing have slightly fiat ends there is produced an opening at the front portion ofthe casing. If this is left comparatively small, no trouble is caused by it in the operation ofthe cartridge in the weapon, but it may further facilitatethe crushing together of the front portion of the casing.

It is, however, not'absolutely essential to the,

invention that the parts of the casing unite together into a completely closed form. As is shown for example in Figure '7 open gaps may remain; these should not be so wide that interference in the automatic operation of the weapon is caused by the extrusion of core material in the case of great expansion. 7 I

The number of notches, and also their length,

in relation to the length of the projectile, may be chosen as desired. It is, of course, necessary that the teeth of the casing be strong enough not to be bent outwards by centrifugal force in consequence of the rotation of the projectile about its there are longitudinal axis during flight. If onlya few teeth, for example two or three,' and these are made comparatively short the resistance to bending is particularly great. Such projectiles would then be suitable for high velocity and quick rotation (gun projectiles). If a'larger number of teeth and pos- .sibly a greater length of teeth is selected the strength .is less. Such projectiles are then suitable for small velocity and less quick rotation but they result in a much easier deformability in the target.

Also by the choice of greater or less thickness of, Wall and corresponding reduction of the thickness of wall from the base of the teeth forwards the capacity of the projectiles for deformation can be regulated easily and as desired according to the object and requirement.

I claim:

l.v A projectile for use in low power automatic fire-arms comprising a casing of metal harder than lead, said casing having a generally cylindrical body with a substantially flat circular base and a tapering, generally pointed, substantially closed nose, the casing nose being split to form a plurality of separable leaves, and a core of softer projectile metal completely filling a portion of the length of the casing, said cor'e'engaging the base and the circumferenitial walls ofthe filled portion of the body of the casing and terminating short of the end of ,the nose of the casing in a substantially flat of softer projectile metal completely filling a portion of the length of the casing, said core engaging the base and the circumferential walls of the filled portion of the body of the casing and terminating short of the end of the nose of the casing and adjacent the point at which substantial tapering of the casing commences in a surface having no substantial convexity, whereby on impact with a target the casing nose will readily flatten and will function similarly to a projectile having a flat forward face.

3. A projectile for hand fire-arms with low projectile velocity, comprising a casing harder than lead, the said casing having a generally 7 cylindrical guide part and a tapered nose, the

latter being split to form a plurality of separate leaves, and a core of softer projectile metal having a substantially flat front face and a length substantially corresponding to the length of the guide part and leaving free the split nose of the casing, thus forming a cavity which, upon impact with the target, allows the leaves of the nose to freely collapse on the front face of the core, 7

OTTO RINKEL. 

